Diversidade de espécies das famílias fabaceae e poaceae em São João do Cariri (PB), Independência (CE) e Sertânia (PE).

A presença de grande número de espécies da família Fabaceae faz a Caatinga um diversificado ambiente pastoril que tem sido enriquecido com a presença de espécies naturalizadas da família Poaceae, garantindo maior oferta de forragem em época de escassez. O objetivo desse estudo foi identificar os gêneros e espécies dessas duas famílias botânicas.

Germination and hardseededness in desmanthus

The mechanisms and control of hardseededness in the 3 Australian cultivars of the genus Desmanthus were investigated in a series of experiments in which the effects of various seedsoftening treatments, particularly boiling water, were measured. Desmanthus seed is predominantly hard, only defective seeds being normally otherwise. As it has only very brief, early embryo dormancy, hardseededness is the only serious barrier to germination. Seed is most readily softened through rupture of the palisade at the lens (strophiole). The lens is of a typically mimosaceous type which is readily ruptured by immersion in boiling water or less readily by application of pressure to adjacent parts of the testa. Ruptures may consist only of separation of the palisade from underlying tissue, which alone does not confer permeability; mostly they also result in fractures to the palisade that then render seeds irreversibly permeable. The palisade becomes reflective as it separates, which allows the event to be witnessed at the moment of separation if suitable pressure is applied to the testa of an individual seed while it is viewed under magnification. Brief (4–10 seconds) immersion of highquality seed in boiling water consistently softened a high proportion of seeds without causing serious damage. Extending the duration of immersion led to a progressive increase in the proportion of seed deaths. Neither previous boiling water treatment nor scarification damage to the testa materially affected results of treatment, but immature and small seeds behaved differently, being more vulnerable to damage than mature seed, and less likely to undergo lens rupture. Adaptation of boiling water treatment to farm-scale seed handling was simple and reliable. Commercial treatment of seed by an alternative method suitable for greater bulks and consisting of passage through a rice-whitener was checked and found to be successful through a combination of gentle scarification and lens rupture, both attributable to the numerous minor impacts of the process. Percentage emergence of seedlings from soil in the greenhouse closely followed percentage laboratory germination, except when inferior seed grades were included in the comparison, when emergence was poor. Very little seed softened in soil. Already-permeable seed either germinated rapidly or died, while buried hard seed mostly remained hard and viable even more than a year after sowing.

Selective herbicide strategies for use in Australian desmanthus seed crops

Grass and broad-leaved weeds can reduce both yields and product marketability of desmanthus (Desmanthus virgatus) seed crops, even when cultural control strategies are used. Selective herbicides might economically control these weeds, but, prior to this study, the few herbicides tolerated by desmanthus did not control key weed contaminants of desmanthus seed crops. In this study, the tolerance of desmanthus cv. Marc to 55 herbicides used for selective weed control in other leguminous crops was assessed in 1 pot trial and 3 Queensland field trials. One field trial assessed the tolerance of desmanthus seedlings to combinations of the most promising pre-emergent and post emergent herbicides. The pre-emergent herbicides, imazaquin, imazethapyr, pendimethalin, oryzalin and trifluralin, gave useful weed control with very little crop damage. The post-emergent herbicides, haloxyfop, clethodim, propyzamide, carbetamide and dalapon, were safe for controlling grass weeds in desmanthus. Selective post-emergence control of broad-leaved weeds was achieved using bentazone, bromoxynil and imazethapyr. One trial investigated salvaging second-year desmanthus crops from mature perennial weeds, and atrazine, terbacil and hexazinone showed some potential in this role. Overall, our results show that desmanthus tolerates herbicides which collectively control a wide range of weeds encountered in Queensland. These, in combination with cultural weed control strategies, should control most weeds in desmanthus seed crops.

Evaluación de la producción de biomasa de dos cultivares de Panicum virgatum (L.) durante el período de implantación y el primer año de producción

La Argentina vive, desde hace unos años, un claro desplazamiento de la ganadería hacia zonas marginales, en las cuales imperan condiciones edáficas y climáticas que son generadoras de estrés para una amplia cantidad de forrajeras utilizadas. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el rendimiento de Panicum virgatum (L.). Esta especie forrajera de metabolismo C4 fue descrita como tolerante a condiciones marginales de crecimiento. Fueron evaluados los cvs. Shawnee y Trailblazer. El experimento se condujo en dos ambientes: I) en el predio perteneciente a la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias de la Universidad Católica Argentina (Lat.34°34´S, 58°26´O) en el cual se evaluó el rendimiento de ambas variedades sembradas a una distancia de 17,5 cm entre hileras y II) en Luján (Buenos Aires, Lat.34°32´S, 59°16´O) en un suelo Argiudol típico, evaluando solamente al cv. Shawnee a dos distintos distanciamientos entre hileras (17,5 y 35 cm). Ambos sitios experimentales se prepararon según un sistema de labranza convencional. Las siembras se efectuaron los días 3 y 5 de octubre de 2008 (ambiente 1 y 2 respectivamente) en forma manual y con un distanciamiento dentro de la hilera de 5cm y una profundidad de 1cm. El arreglo experimental consistió en un DCA con tres repeticiones. Los datos obtenidos se analizaron mediante un Análisis de la Varianza. Se tomó como criterio de defoliación una altura del follaje de 60cm y dejando una altura remanente de 15cm luego del corte En el ambiente 1, el rendimiento acumulado no difirió estadísticamente entre los genotipos estudiados en las dos campañas evaluadas. Durante el primer año, la producción (expresada en kg MS ha-1 ± EEM) del cv. Shawnee fue de 6.293,33 ± 673,42 mientras que el cv. Trailblazer produjo 5.072,38 ± 1.011,85. En cambio, durante el segundo año se observó un marcado incremento en la producción acumulada registrándose valores de 10.590,48 ± 638,31 y 8.857,14 ± 2187,41 para los cv Trailblazer y Shawnee respectivamente. En el ambiente 2, no se observaron diferencias en el rendimiento del cultivo sembrado a 17,5cm o 35 cm de distancia entre hileras. En efecto, con una separación de 17.5 cm se registró una producción de 8.302,85 ± 342,92 y 26.095,24 ± 3780,99 (año 1 y 2 respectivamente) mientras que a 35 cm se observaron 6.054,28± 1.216,01 y 29.428,57± 5.735,67 (año 1 y 2 respectivamente).Se observó la formación de estructuras reproductivas en ambos genotipos demostrando la adaptabilidad de esta especie a nuestra latitud. Los resultados presentados señalan la utilidad de continuar la evaluación de esta especie incluyendo su evaluación en ambientes donde la misma sea capaz de expresar la tolerancia a los factores abióticos generadores de estrés y su respuesta a otras variables de manejo agronómico.

Producción y composición quimica del forraje de Huizachillo (Desmanthus virgatus (L) var. de pressus Willd) bajo cultivo.

Tesis (Maestría en Ciencias en Producción Agrícola) UANL

Planting and production of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) as a bioenergy crop in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a perennial grass holding great promise as a biofuel resource. While Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has an appropriate land base and climatic conditions, there is little research exploring the possibilities of switchgrass production. The overall objectives of this research were to investigate switchgrass establishment in the northern edge of its distribution through: investigating the effects of competition on the germination and establishment of switchgrass through the developmental and competitive characteristics of Cave-in-Rock switchgrass and large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis L.) in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula; and, determining the optimum planting depths and timing for switchgrass in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. For the competition study, a randomized complete block design was installed June 2009 at two locations in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Four treatments (0, 1, 4, and 8 plants/m2) of crabgrass were planted with one switchgrass plant. There was a significant difference between switchgrass biomass produced in year one, as a function of crabgrass weed pressure. There was no significant difference between the switchgrass biomass produced in year two versus previous crabgrass weed pressure. There is a significant difference between switchgrass biomass produced in year one and two. For the depth and timing study, a completely randomized design was installed at two locations in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on seven planting dates (three fall 2009, and four spring 2010); 25 seeds were planted 2 cm apart along 0.5 m rows at depths of: 0.6 cm, 1.3 cm, and 1.9 cm. Emergence and biomass yields were compared by planting date, and depths. A greenhouse seeding experiment was established using the same planting depths and parameters as the field study. The number of seedlings was tallied daily for 30 days. There was a significant difference in survivorship between the fall and spring planting dates, with the spring being more successful. Of the four spring planting dates, there was a significant difference between May and June in emergence and biomass yield. June planting dates had the most percent emergence and total survivorship. There is no significant difference between planting switchgrass at depths of 0.6 cm, 1.3 cm, and 1.9 cm. In conclusion, switchgrass showed no signs of a legacy effect of competition from year one, on biomass production. Overall, an antagonistic effect on switchgrass biomass yield during the establishment period has been observed as a result of increasing competing weed pressure. When planting switchgrass in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, it should be done in the spring, within the first two weeks of June, at any depth ranging from 0.6 cm to 1.9 cm.

Determinación de la productividad de cuatro especies gramíneas forrajeras en condiciones de pastoreo para la zona seca de Juigalpa, Chontales

El presente trabajo se realizó en dos fincas ubicadas en la comarca "Las Lajitas" y "San Patricio" a 6 y 30 Km de la ciudad de Juigalpa sobre la carretera a Managua, Departamento de Chontales. El trabajo consistió en un estudio que tuvo como objetivo principal evaluar el comportamiento de adaptación y productividad de cuatro especies gramíneas. forrajeras, dos de reciente introducción y dos naturalizadas a tres edades de cortes (25, 30 y 35 días) en condiciones de pastoreo para la zona seca de Juigalpa, Chontales, bajo condiciones de manejo local (sin riego, ni fertilización) de Diciembre de 1997 a Abril de 1998. Los parámetros a medir en el estudio fueron: 1.- La producción de materia verde y materia seca en toneladas/Manzanas. 2.- Altura de las plantas en cm. 3.- El porcentaje de cobertura foliar. 4.- Los costos de establecimiento, manejo y producción de 0 a 5 años de las cuatro especies forrajeras mediante diagnóstico a productores y técnicos de la zona. Para la realización de este ensayo no se realizó propiamente un diseño estadístico sino que se situaron en las parcelas tres intervalos de corte con tres réplicas para cada una promediando los resultados en los cinco cortes realizados durante el estudio. Brachiaria brizantha c.v. Marandú fue la especie que mejor se comportó en la producción de materia verde, materia seca, altura de las plantas en cm y porcentaje de cobertura foliar, seguido de Paspalum virgatum, Andropogon gayanus e Hyparrhenia rufa para cada uno de los tres intervalos de corte. Paspalum virgatum presentó durante el estudio la mejor tasa de disminución del rendimiento en porcentajes después de haber realizado el primer corte en los intervalos correspondientes, seguido de Brachiaria brizantha, Andropogon gayanus e Hyparrhenia rufa. Así mismo, Brachiaria brizantha al realizarse una proyección del establecimiento, manejo y producción de la especie evaluadas de 0 a 5 años se consultó que obtuvo mejores utilidades en dólares USA I Mz / Año con respecto a las demás especies. Estas diferencias se manifiestan claramente porque Brachiaria brizantha es un pasto que soporta una mayor carga animal dando así mayor producción de carne, leche y valor de las semil1as gámicas en Kg.

本氏针茅与柳枝稷光合生理生态特征比较研究

采用美国LI—COR公司生产的Li-6400便携式光合测定系统,选择在干旱季节里,在田间自然条件下,测定并比较研究了引种牧草柳枝稷和天然牧草本氏针茅两种禾本科植物的光合生理生态特征的日变化。结果表明,柳枝稷属于高光合、低蒸腾和高水分利用效率的植物,具有较强的气孔调节能力。柳枝稷之所以具有较高的光合速率,主要是因为它具有较强的叶肉细胞羧化能力,较低的气孔导度降低了蒸腾速率,从而提高了水分利用效率;本氏针茅属于较低光合,较高蒸腾和低水分利用效率的植物,但二者均能在黄土高原保持良好的生长。

柳枝稷的生长发育与土壤水分特征

1992—1998年中国科学院安塞水土保持综合试验站在山地、川地引种10份原产美国的柳枝稷(Panicum virgatum)材料,经过7 a测定,数据表明柳枝稷在3～5 a生长高峰期对土壤水分需求最大,产量最高。从土壤水分含量的变化来看,柳枝稷草地在80—200 cm土层已经形成土壤干层,而且在经过生长季节降雨和休闲期的雨雪水分补充不能够补偿,这主要是维持较大的生产力造成。柳枝稷在半干旱黄土丘陵区有较强的适应性,这对当地人工草地建造、天然草地改良具有重要意义。通过对柳枝稷驯化栽培的人工草地在黄土丘陵半干旱地区立地条件下生产力与土壤水分特征的比较,以揭示柳枝稷的生态适应性对其地上生物量形成规律的影响,为该地区合理利用牧草资源、提高草地的生产能力提供依据与参考。

黄土丘陵区柳枝稷光合生理生态特性的初步研究

研究了黄土丘陵区引种草种柳枝稷 ( Panicum virgatum)的光合生理生态特性 ,比较了不同叶位叶片光合速率 ( Pn)、蒸腾速率 ( Tr)、水分利用效率 ( WUE)的日变化以及环境因子的作用。结果表明 ,柳枝稷叶片 Pn日变化曲线为双峰型 ,中午“光合降低”主要是由于叶温过高导致呼吸高引起的净光合速率降低。叶龄增大 ,叶片 Pn日变化相对较平缓 ,其中壮龄叶Pn日变化最为平缓。幼龄叶 Tr的日变化为双峰型 ,随叶龄增大 (叶位下降 )而成为单峰型。WUE的日变化可划分为上午的降低和下午的波动 2个阶段 ,最上充分展开叶 (旗叶 )的WUE始终最高。

Controle do capim-navalha com enxada química manual.

O capim-navalha (Paspalum virgatum L.), também chamado de navalhão, capim-duro ou capim-cabeçudo, é a principal gramínea invasora de pastagens na Amazônia, por causa de sua alta capacidade de multiplicação e de competição com as forrageiras, especialmente em solos úmidos. Os bovinos pastejam somente plantas jovens do capim-navalha, enquanto os equinos apreciam as sementes e ajudam a disseminar a infestação na pastagem.

Interactive Effects of Plant Species and Organic Carbon on Nitrate Removal in Chesapeake Bay Treatment Wetlands

Nitrate from agricultural runoff are a significant cause of algal blooms in estuarine ecosystems such as the Chesapeake Bay. These blooms block sunlight vital to submerged aquatic vegetation, leading to hypoxic areas. Natural and constructed wetlands have been shown to reduce the amount of nitrate flowing into adjacent bodies of water. We tested three wetland plant species native to Maryland, Typha latifolia (cattail), Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), and Schoenoplectus validus (soft-stem bulrush), in wetland microcosms to determine the effect of species combination and organic amendment on nitrate removal. In the first phase of our study, we found that microcosms containing sawdust exhibited significantly greater nitrate removal than microcosms amended with glucose or hay at a low nitrate loading rate. In the second phase of our study, we confirmed that combining these plants removed nitrate, although no one combination was significantly better. Furthermore, the above-ground biomass of microcosms containing switchgrass had a significantly greater percentage of carbon than microcosms without switchgrass, which can be studied for potential biofuel use. Based on our data, future environmental groups can make a more informed decision when choosing biofuel-capable plant species for artificial wetlands native to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Gayliella gen. nov in the tribe Ceramieae (Ceramiaceae, Rhodophyta) based on molecular and morphological evidence

On the basis of comparative morphology and phylogenetic analyses of rbcL and LSU rDNA sequence data, a new genus, Gayliella gen. nov., is proposed to accommodate the Ceramium flaccidum complex (C. flaccidum, C. byssoideum, C. gracillimum var. byssoideum, and C. taylorii), C. fimbriatum, and a previously undescribed species from Australia. C. transversale is reinstated and recognized as a distinct species. Through this study, G. flaccida (Kutzing) comb. nov., G. transversalis (Collins et Hervey) comb. nov., G. fimbriata (Setchell et N. L. Gardner) comb. nov., G. taylorii comb. nov., G. mazoyerae sp. nov., and G. womersleyi sp. nov. are based on detailed comparative morphology. The species referred to as C. flaccidum and C. dawsonii from Brazil also belong to the new genus. Comparison of Gayliella with Ceramium shows that it differs from the latter by having an alternate branching pattern; three cortical initials per periaxial cell, of which the third is directed basipetally and divides horizontally; and unicellular rhizoids produced from periaxial cells. Our phylogenetic analyses of rbcL and LSU rDNA gene sequence data confirm that Gayliella gen. nov. represents a monophyletic clade distinct from most Ceramium species including the type species, C. virgatum. We also transfer C. recticorticum to the new genus Gayliella.

cpDNA-RFLP in Ceramium (Rhodophyta): Intraspecific polymorphism and species-level phylogeny

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of chloroplast (cp) DNA is a powerful tool for the study of microevolutionary processes in land plants, yet has not previously been applied to seaweed populations. We used cpDNA-RFLP, detected on Southern blots using labeled total plastid DNA, to search for intraspecific and intrapopulational cpDNA RFLP polymorphism in two species of the common red algal genus Ceramium in Ireland and Britain. In C. botryocarpum one polymorphism was detected in one individual among 18 from two populations. Twenty-six individuals of C. virgatum from five populations at three locations exhibited a total of four haplotypes. One was frequent (80.8% of individuals); the others were rare (7.7, 7.7 and 4.2%) and were private to particular populations. Polymorphism was observed in two populations. The corrected mean was 2.26 +/- 0.36 haplotypes per population, which was within the typical range determined for higher plants using similar techniques. The spatial distribution of haplotypes was heterogeneous, with highly significant population differentiation (P = 0.00018; Fisher's exact test). Intraspecific polymorphism in C. virgatum had no impact on species-level phylogenetic reconstruction. This is the first unequivocal report of both intraspecific and intrapopulational cpDNA-RFLP polymorphism in algae.

Tortugas marinas durante el 2010 en Pisco, Perú

Durante el 2010, se capturó 55 ejemplares de tortuga verde Chelonia mydas en La Aguada (13°51’S y 76°15’W) al sureste de la bahía de Paracas; el número promedio de tortugas capturadas por kilómetro de red tendida fue 3,08±2,5; el tamaño promedio de la LCC fue 60,3±10,5cm; el 78% de los ejemplares presentaron el patrón 5c, 4d, 4i y 11d, 11i, para los escudos centrales, costales y marginales, respectivamente. La TSM donde se capturaron varió entre 15,2 y 20,9 °C, la mayor ocurrencia de tortugas se registró de 18,5 a 20 °C. Los epibiontes más representativos fueron Platylepas hexastylos (56,8%), Conchoderma virgatum (26,9%) y Chelonibia testudinaria (13,3%); la ocurrencia de los ítems alimenticios: Clorophyta (78%), Rhodophyta (30%), Cnidaria (43%), Crustacea (43%), Polichaeta (17%), Mollusca (17%), arena (26%) y plástico (17%); el 72% de las tortugas presentaron cobertura algal, de las cuales el 65% fue el alga verde Enteromorpha sp.